High-class Mehmas colt Aesterius added another stakes success to his resume on Sunday when making all in the Group 3 Prix d'Arenberg at Longchamp.
The Archie Watson-trained colt has been a model of consistency this season for Wathnan Racing, scoring first time out at Bath before running close fifth to Shareholder in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot en route to capturing the Listed Dragon Stakes at Sandown. Having run a fine second in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood, he returned to winning ways in style at Longchamp with a length-and-a-half success over Kaadi.
A crack against older horses in the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye could now be on the cards for this rapid colt, as Archie Watson outlined.
"He bought a strong level of form into the race," said Watson. "Everything went smoothly and he won impressively, as I hoped he would. James was delighted with him and said it was very straightforward. He's a very talented colt."
"He's in the Abbaye, which we almost won with Soldier’s Call as a two-year-old having won this race. We'll discuss that with the owners. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar will be his final target of the season."
Aesterius was bred by Sean Maguire out of Jane Doe, a Hallowed Crown half-sister to Grade 3 winner Tawhid. He most recently sold for £380,000 out of the Mocklershill draft to Blandford Bloodstock at the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale in Doncaster (pictured below).
Aesterius is one of 43 2yo winners for Europe's leading 2yo sire Mehmas, whose juveniles have already earned over £1.1 million this season.
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